2009 MLB Preview - Houston Astros

Houston Astros
Manager: Cecil Cooper (3rd season)
2008 Record: 86-75 (3rd NL Central)


Added: C Ivan Rodriguez (DET), OF Jason Michaels (PIT), SP Mike Hampton (ATL)
Lost: IF Mark Loretta (LAD), IF Jose Castillo (WAS), RP Micah Bowie (COL)

Projected Lineup (2008 Stats)
1. 2B Kaz Matsui (.293, 58 R, 6 HR, 33 RBI, 20 SB) 2. SS Miguel Tejada (.283, 92 R, 13 HR, 66 RBI) 3. 1B Lance Berkman (.312, 114 R, 29 HR, 106 RBI) 4. LF Carlos Lee (.314, 61 R, 28 HR, 100 RBI) 5. RF Hunter Pence (.269, 78 R, 25 HR, 83 RBI) 6. 3B Geoff Blum (.240, 36 R, 14 HR, 53 RBI) 7. C Ivan Rodriguez (.276, 44 R, 7 HR, 35 RBI) 8. CF Michael Bourn (.229, 57 R, 5 HR, 29 RBI, 41 SB)

Projected Starting Rotation (2008 Stats)
1. Roy Oswalt (17-10, 3.54 ERA, 165 K) 2. Wandy Rodriguez (9-7, 3.54 ERA, 131 K) 3. Mike Hampton (3-4, 4.85 ERA, 34 K) 4. Brian Moehler (11-8, 4.56 ERA, 82 K) 5. Jose Capellan (1st Year Starter)

Bench
C Humberto Quinto, IF/OF Darin Erstad, OF Jason Michaels, OF Reggie Abercrombie

Bullpen (2008 Stats for Closer only)
Jose Valverde (44 SV, 72 IP, 62 H, 83 K, 3.38 ERA), Doug Brocail, LaTroy Hawkins, Geoff Geary, Chris Sampson, Wesley Wright

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Fantasy Studs: 1B Lance Berkman, OF Carlos Lee
Fantasy Sleepers: 2B Kaz Matsui, OF Michael Bourn

Men In The Minors: C Jason Castro, 2B Drew Sutton, 3B Chris Johnson, Sp Bud Norris, SP Ross Seaton, SP Jordan Lyles

Home Ballpark: Minute Maid Park (Grade 9/10)

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Team Outlook: Not really sure what to think of this team. There's plenty of talent but not sure if the actual execution will happen. If you look at the lineup, there's plenty of pop in those bats. It's not going to be easy for any pitching staff to maneuver through the 3-4-5 hitters of Berkman, Lee and Pence. You can even add Tejada in the 2 spot to that mix, though he is starting to show signs of aging. Picking up Pudge is good for this team and with so many young pitchers in the stable for the team, he could be more valuable than they know. The pitching staff is full of question marks though. After Oswalt, there's no guarantee of how anyone else will do. Hampton has spent more time on the disabled list than the active roster in the past 3 seasons. Moehler has never been "lights out" and Capellan is full of potential but hasn't thrown under the birght lights yet. Russ Ortiz is also in camp but he didn't even pitch in 2008. Thankfully, they have one of the better bullpens in the NL. The NL Central isn't the toughest division in MLB but it may be tough enough that the Astros may have a better chance of winning it in 2010 and not 2009.

Next Preview: Kansas City Royals